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Updated September 8, 2026 from live stats

D'Andre Swift or Samaje PerineWho should you draft or start in 2026 fantasy football?

DraftCall Analytics

Start D'Andre Swift over Samaje Perine in 2026.

D'Andre Swift averaged 13.2 PPG in 2025 to Samaje Perine's 6.5, a 6.7 point per game edge. Both play running backs, so that per-game gap is the cleanest tiebreaker for a 2026 start or sit.

The Bottom Line

D'Andre Swift is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 13.2 PPG and 1,386 total yards in 2025, the production separation is too wide to overcome on matchup alone. Samaje Perine (6.5 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster D'Andre Swift as the starter and Samaje Perine as depth.

High confidence: stats strongly favor the leader, and the gap is unlikely to close on matchup alone.

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RBChicago Bears#16PPG LEADER

D'Andre Swift

PPG

13.2

Games

Rush Yds

1,087

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

299

Bye

Week 10

RBKansas City Chiefs

Samaje Perine

PPG

6.5

Games

Rush Yds

285

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

182

Bye

Week 6

The Edge Chart

D'Andre Swift

Samaje Perine

Head to Head

13.2 PPG6.5 PPG

16 GP15 GP

Bye: Week 10Bye: Week 6

Fantasy Tiers

D'Andre Swift: Tier 4 (Flex/Starter) RB (ranked #16 at the position). Samaje Perine: Unranked RB. Among the top 50 running backs this season, D'Andre Swift is producing at 60% of elite pace and Samaje Perine at 30%. That per-game gap means D'Andre Swift carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

D'Andre Swift vs Samaje Perine: The Full Breakdown

D'Andre Swift and Samaje Perine are at different tiers heading into 2026. The Chicago Bears running back averaged 13.2 PPG in 2025, a full 6.7 points per game ahead of Samaje Perine's 6.5 with the Kansas City Chiefs. That kind of gap doesn't close on matchup alone.

A 6.7-PPG gap gives D'Andre Swift the edge on paper, but paper does not account for Thursday night matchups, weather games, or a star defender returning from injury. The real question is not who was better in 2025, but who is the better start this specific week.

Both profile as early-down workhorses. D'Andre Swift ran for 1087 yards and 9 touchdowns; Samaje Perine posted 285 and 2. Goal-line share, red zone touches, and which team is favored are usually the tiebreaker when neither back offers passing-game volume.

D'Andre Swift has his bye in Week 10, and Samaje Perine rests in Week 6. Managers rostering both need waiver wire depth at running back for those two weeks, and that is exactly the kind of planning DraftCall's matchup engine surfaces automatically so you are not scrambling on a Sunday morning.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire D'Andre Swift at a discount because your league-mates undervalue running back production, do it. Samaje Perine is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: D'Andre Swift (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open. Samaje Perine (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open.

Did You Know?

•D'Andre Swift outscored Samaje Perine by a projected 114 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•D'Andre Swift played 16 games in 2025 compared to Samaje Perine's 15. That durability gap means D'Andre Swift contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•D'Andre Swift scored 10 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.6 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.
•D'Andre Swift caught 34 passes in 2025. Pass-catching backs average 2-3 more PPG in half-PPR than their non-receiving counterparts.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

D'Andre Swift vs Samaje Perine: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	D'Andre Swift	Samaje Perine
PPG (Half-PPR)	13.2	6.5
Games Played	16	15
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	211	98
Rushing Yards	1,087	285
Rush Yds/Game	67.9	19.0
Rushing TDs	9	2
Receptions	34	24
Receiving Yards	299	182
Targets	48	0
Total TDs	10	3
Age	27	-
Experience	5 yrs	-
Bye Week	Week 10	Week 6

Summary

D'Andre Swift outscored Samaje Perine by 6.7 PPG in 2025 (13.2 to 6.5). That production gap is the baseline, but weekly context shifts the answer. DraftCall analyzes matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and health data to deliver a clear start or sit recommendation backed by real reasoning.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start D'Andre Swift or Samaje Perine in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, D'Andre Swift has the edge at 13.2 PPG compared to Samaje Perine's 6.5 PPG. However, the best start depends on weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status. DraftCall's app provides real-time AI-powered verdicts that factor in all of these variables.

Should I draft D'Andre Swift or Samaje Perine in 2026 fantasy football?▾

D'Andre Swift is the earlier pick. He averaged 13.2 fantasy points per game in 2025 to Samaje Perine's 6.5, a 6.7 point per game edge over a full season. Positional rank, fantasy tier, and bye week are broken down below.

How many fantasy points did D'Andre Swift and Samaje Perine average in 2025?▾

D'Andre Swift averaged 13.2 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 16 games in 2025. Samaje Perine averaged 6.5 PPG over 15 games. That is a difference of 6.7 points per game.

When are D'Andre Swift and Samaje Perine's bye weeks in 2026?▾

D'Andre Swift (CHI) has a bye in Week 10, and Samaje Perine (KC) has a bye in Week 6. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is D'Andre Swift or Samaje Perine a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

D'Andre Swift outscored Samaje Perine by 6.7 PPG in 2025, which gives him the edge heading into 2026. For a week-by-week verdict, DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality and recent trends in real time.